Helmer Ruben Fleischer sets Fox comedy

Laffer penned by John Phillips centers around startup biz

Ruben Fleischer’s pod deal at 20th Century Fox TV has begun to bear fruit as the helmer and John Phillips have set up a project at the Fox network.

Laffer, tentatively titled “Starting Up,” is based on an idea from Kaplan Perrone and centers around two twentysomething friends who ankle their dull office jobs to launch a company. Kaplan Perrone Entertainment will exec produce.

Fleischer helmed the upcoming “Gangster Squad” along with “Zombieland” and “30 Minutes or Less.” He’s currently producing “Two Night Stand.” Phillips is a feature writer who recently sold his spec “Dirty Grandpa” to Universal.

Fleischer and Phillips are both repped by UTA. Fleischer is also represented by attorney Warren Dern at Sloane Offer, and Phillips by Schreck Rose Dappello.